Iris and some Irids 2010

[olegKon]

Iris bulleyana is still flowering with 23 stems this year. I failed to take a good picture of the whole clump, so only flowers.
Any thoughts of the name for this bearded beauty. It was bought as Matinata which it actually isn't.

[Rob]

Any thoughts of the name for this bearded beauty. It was bought as Matinata which it actually isn't.

Possibly Iris Germanica 'Loop the Loop'.

Not one I grow, so only guessing from a picture.

[olegKon]

Thank you, Rob.
It really looks like it

[Kees Green]

Hi
Just wondering how long from seed does it take to get flowers in the miniature bearded/standards irises.
And while I am asking what about the reticulates?
I find it unusual that the seedlings have more than one leaf, was expecting the same situation as the narcissus.
Thanks

[PeterT]

Hi Kees,
You can have flowers on bearded Iris in their second year of growth but the larger ones often take three years. Reticulatas can flower in three years, (Hyrcana Talish Form is quick for me) but more usually five to seven years from sowing.
With bearded Iris the seedlings quickly form an embyonic rhizome and anchor root then they are little plants with an apical bud with its associated leaf fan

[Kees Green]

Hi Peter, thanks for that.
I will see what hapens. I will try to cross my retics but despite reading up on how to pollinate Iris's I think I need a picture step by step guide to understand it 

[Maggi Young]

Hi Peter, thanks for that.
I will see what hapens. I will try to cross my retics but despite reading up on how to pollinate Iris's I think I need a picture step by step guide to understand it 

I think Ian has photos in a BulbLog to show you the way, Kees.... have to shoot off to work at the Beeb now but I'll search later for you.

[arillady]

Kees just get some tweezers and grab a stamen and then hold a standard between thumb and forefinger of other hand and there should be a bit of a lip just down from the outer edge of the standard. Wipe the stamen - if it has pollen - against the lip on each standard. I have not done a test to see what happens if you only do one standard. You probably only have seed in that third of the pod. Anyone know for sure???

[daveyp1970]

Pat would you wipe the pollen below the lip and also on top of it?

[arillady]

No - the sticky part is where you pull the lip down from the top part of the standard. Think of an envelope with a pull off strip - only where you pull the lip away from the standard is the sticky bit. It does not stay sticky for very long if it is wet or windy or sunny. Best time is about 10am on I have found.
How is that for an explanation

[Lesley Cox]

In other words, place the pollen on top of the stigmatic lip. The tube it travels down to meet the ovule, goes down the top of the lip underneath the top part of the style arm - I mean BETWEEN the style arm and the stigmatic lip.

[Maggi Young]

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2009Feb181234965123BULB_LOG_07.pdf
close up photo of lip on Iris .... It is not a separate structure like the style of the related Crocus but it is on the leading lower edge of the standard just above the anthers.

Pat, I think that it would be possible, in theory at least, to pollinate each third of ther pod with a different pollen! Something to try out, perhaps!

[arilnut]

Correction Maggi.  It is the Style arm, a separate structure not the standard.
Here is a scan from Fritz Kohlein's book "IRIS"

John B

http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2009Feb181234965123BULB_LOG_07.pdf
close up photo of lip on Iris .... It is not a separate structure like the style of the related Crocus but it is on the leading lower edge of the standard just above the anthers.

Pat, I think that it would be possible, in theory at least, to pollinate each third of ther pod with a different pollen! Something to try out, perhaps!

[Maggi Young]

Thanks,  John ...... this business of Iris sex is a nightmare!! 

[arilnut]

Nothin to it Maggi.

John

Thanks,  John ...... this business of Iris sex is a nightmare!!